Self-Concept, Self-Efficacy and Self Esteem As Predictors of Academic Performance in Mathematics among Junior Secondary School Students in Edo State

This study examined Self-Concept, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Academic Performance in Mathematics among Junior Secondary School Students in Edo State. The main purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between self-concept and academic performance in mathematics of Junior Secondary School students in Edo state. The study adopted the correlation research design. A sample of 3,639 was drawn from a population of 36,615 junior students in Edo state. The data generated for the study were obtained through a self designed questionnaire. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analysed the data collected. The result obtained revealed the following: there was a positive relationship between self-concept and academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students, there was also a negative relationship between self-efficacy and academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo state. The study thus concluded that self-concept and self-efficacy are not only significantly related to academic performance, they significantly predict academic performance of students. It was therefore recommended that adequate and sufficient attention must be given to sustain the development of positive self-concept and self-efficacy of students in the school system, while deliberate efforts should be made to build up the self-esteem of the students and Teachers should be offered professional guidance by educational authorities on these self-constructs in students as an avenue to improve on students’ academic


Introduction
Every educational process or program is expected to ensure that the students achieve a satisfactory outcome (Onyeizugbo, 2010) .Various variables (such as self-awareness, self-concept, self-efficacy, locus of control, selfesteem) are known to influence academic performance (Kaunda, 2010;Redmond, 2013;Zahra, 2010).These variables are therefore of great importance to educational researchers and other related disciplines.Many of the successes and/or failures that people experience in many areas of life are closely related to the ways that they have learned to view themselves and their relationships with others.For example, an individual performs better in any field if he believes in himself (self-concept), if he believes in his ability to perform a specific task (self-efficacy), and believes he is worthy of such task (self-esteem).This can possibly apply to school setting as well.It is likely that a student who has a high self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem will perform better in academics than his counterpart with low self-concept, low self-efficacy and low self-esteem.Since these three psychological variables have been known to influence performance, how much can academic performance depend on them?Although there are obviously other factors that can, and do affect the performance of students academically, many psychologists and educationists believe that these psychological constructs under study, if properly harnessed, will help to turn things around for students.
Academic performance refers to how well or how badly a student is doing in the various subjects when his ability or knowledge in his course of study is tested.Academic performance ought to reveal how much a learner knows from the teacher or instructor.Nowadays however, academic performance is not what it should be as it has over the years taken downward turn which has resulted to falling/dwindling standard of academic performance in Nigeria.The problem of poor academic performance stems from the fact that many students have no self-confidence as well as self-beliefs.For example, the fear of mathematics is a learned behaviour of self-defeat.The poor performance in mathematics reveals the way that students react to it in their minds.Mathematics as a subject sends out such a negative feelings, which induces fear that no other subject does.Usually, this begins in early childhood due to negative or unpleasant experiences in the subject or its teacher.
The level of students' academic performance in mathematics in Edo State would be regarded as low.From observation, the level of participation in academic exercise, the passion that was supposed to be the hallmark of students' academic pursuit seems to have lost its heat.One of the reasons for this is the students' lack of the knowledge of self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem.A learner has to be involved with keen interest mind, body and soul for knowledge to take place.Hence, an individual can only perform well academically when his mind, his "self"is wholly involved.Well-meaning educationists have expressed great concern on the falling or dwindling standard of education in Nigeria.This means academic performance, which should be the centre of educational process, is no longer what it should be.Among the numbers of reasons for the poor academic performance is lack of interest on the part of the students (Aluede et al., 2009).
Considering the fact that the educational sector is set up for the student for the sake of his future and the future of the nation, attention has to be drawn to his all-round personality development especially his "SELF" and his control.His self-concept, self-awareness, self-assessment, self-esteem, self-determination, self-efficacy, locus of control and so on have to be explored by him with the help of the parents, teachers, psychologists and guidance counselors.The student's perceptions and beliefs about himself help a great deal in seeing himself as one capable of thinking and not just a receptor to environmental force.Self-confidence naturally leads to self-realization, good performance and successful achievement.The importance of self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem have to do with a special kind of mental attitude that helps the individual to believe in himself and release an inner power.
Self-concept is referred to as the image or perceptions that students hold about themselves; which include feelings, attitudes and knowledge about their abilities, skills and acceptance.The perception that every student has of himself between his self-concept and academic demands is important for learning outcomes.Self-concept refers to the set of perceptions or reference points that the subject has about himself.This connotes the set of characteristics, attributes, qualities and deficiencies, capacities and limits, values and relationships that the subject knows to be descriptive of himself and which he perceives as data concerning his identity.It is a set of knowledge and attitude that we have about ourselves, the perception that the individual assigns to himself and characteristics or attributes that we use to describe ourselves.It is understood to be fundamentally a descriptive assessment (Sanchez and Roda, 2007).
Self-efficacy is another construct which roughly corresponds with a person's belief in his own competence.It refers to the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain a certain set of goals.In academic setting, self-efficacy refers to a student's belief that he can successfully enter into and complete a course of study.It is an individual's confidence in his ability to organize, execute, and regulate performance in order to solve a problem or accomplish a task at a designated level of skill and ability.It deals with the belief system of the student; that he is capable of entering into an academic task and accomplishes the course outcome (Redmond, 2013).It therefore refers to a person's conviction that he can successfully achieve at a designated level in a specific academic subject area.
Self-esteem is an opinion of what value or worth an individual places on himself (Beck, 2008).The importance of self-esteem lies in the fact that it concerns us ourselves; the way we are, the way we feel and the sense of our personal value or personal worth.A student with a high self-esteem views himself worthy enough to tackle any academic challenge while the one with low self-esteem is likely to have a self-defeating attitude thereby refraining from academic challenges.Thus, self-perception seems to have a lot of influence on every activity of an individual including academic performance in mathematics.The study and understanding of these self-constructs (that is, selfconcept, self-efficacy and self-esteem) under discussion bring this out in its clear terms.The way we view ourselves and feel about ourselves have a profound effect on what we do and how we live our lives.Self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem are of vital importance in directing an individual's life towards a more productive and happy one.The premise of this study is that student's self-perception and beliefs in his self-concept, self-efficacy and selfesteem regarding academic competency could have important implication for improving students' performance (Aldridge and Fraser, 2008).
In Nigeria, some principles have been put in place in the educational sector to enhance performance of students.However none is targeted towards given the learner a convincing value of his/herself, and researchers have not also been too concerned with the subject of self-value that triggers performance.Most of the studies known to the researcher on the relationship among self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem and academic performance that were reviewed were carried out in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.Few studies on these variables have been reported in Nigeria.This again is another important gap, which this study intends to fill.The study, therefore, examines the relationship between self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem and academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria.The aim of this paper therefore is to examine determine the productiveness of self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem on academic performance in mathematics of Junior Secondary School students in Edo state.

Research Question
Do self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-esteem predict academic performance in mathematics among students in junior secondary schools in Edo State?

Research Hypothesis
Self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-esteem do not significantly predict academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo State.

Theoretical Framework
The major component of this study is developing a comprehension about how social cognitive factors influence academic performance through self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem of students.Given that internal thought processes and external behaviors/actions are influenced by human interactions (Bandura, 1982;1989;1991), selfimage and self-perceptions during the adolescent period of development are largely affected by individuals' selfbeliefs.The social cognitive theory revolves around the notion that learning correlates to the observation of a role model, and intentionally picking up a challenge.Bandura's action oriented, problem-solving approach appeals to those who want to make changes in their lives.Social cognitive theory is learning theories based on the ideas that people learn, emulate and aspire for greater heights by watching what others do, and that human thought processes are central to understanding personality.Its main concept is that an individual's actions and reactions in almost every situation is influenced by the actions which the individual has observed in others.The observations are remembered by the individual and help shape social behaviour and cognitive processes.The theory provides a framework for understanding, predicting and changing human behavior.It focuses on the application of cognitive learning principles to change problems that are associated with beliefs, thinking and feelings.The social cognitive theorists stress that people extensively control, or regulate their own behavior.According to Bandura (2005), social cognitive theory takes on an agentic perspective to change, development and adaptation.He described an agent as someone who intentionally influences one's functioning and life circumstances; in this view, people are selforganizing, proactive, self-regulating, and self-reflecting (Bandura, 2005).
According to the theory, behavioural and environmental information create the self-beliefs that, in turn, inform and alter subsequent behavior and environments.The theory emphasizes how cognitive, behavioural, personal, and environmental factors interact to determine motivation and behavior (Crothers et al., 2008).It is composed of four processes of goal realization: self-observation, self-evaluation, self-reaction and self-efficacy.These components are interrelated, each having an effect on motivation and goal attainment (Redmond, 2013).According to Locke and Latham (2002), as cited in Redmond (2013), although social cognitive theory covers many topics such as moral judgment and physiological arousal, research is primarily focused on self-efficacy, or the beliefs regarding one's capabilities of successfully completing tasks or goals.Bandura (1986), proposed a view of human functioning that emphasized the role of self-referent beliefs.In this socio-cognitive perspective, individuals are viewed as proactive and self-regulating rather than as reactive and controlled by biological or environmental forces.Bandura also emphasized that "people who regard themselves as highly efficacious act, think, and feel differently from those who perceive themselves as inefficacious.They produce their own future, rather than simply foretell it".
The social cognitive theory is relevant to this study in that all the variables believed that behaviour is not caused by a response to an outside stimulus, but instead, the behaviour is inspired by what a person wants most at any given time.It is believed that all living creation, control their behaviour to maximize their need satisfaction.The argument is that if students are not motivated to do their school work, it may be because they view school work as irrelevant to their basic human need (Wikipedia, 2010).
Regarding self-efficacy, Bandura (1995), as cited in Redmond (2013) explains that it refers to beliefs in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations.Self-efficacy is people's perception of their ability to do what is necessary to achieve desired goals (Bandura, 1997).More simply, self-efficacy is what an individual believes he or she can accomplish using his or her skills under certain circumstances (Snyder and Lopez, 2007).Like social cognitive theory, the basic principle behind self-efficacy theory is that individuals are more likely to engage in activities for which they have high self-efficacy.Self-efficacy has been thought to be task specific version of self-esteem (Lunenburg, 2011).It is considered a situation-specific construct, content dependent and functions as a cognitive mediator of action (Bandura, 1982).Self-esteem is often seen as synonymous to self-concept and/or self-efficacy.Yet they differ from one another, but they can influence one another.The three constructs therefore utilize the important idea of social cognitive theory.
Since social cognitive development emphasizes the influence of interactions, development, and maturation of children and adolescents, it is applicable to the current study of academic self-concept, academic self-efficacy, selfesteem and academic performance.Again, the social cognitive theory thus becomes relevant to this study because it examines the importance of students' academic performance through the awareness of the use of self-constructs in their studies and all their school works.It provides an opportunity to students to decide whether to exert control and pursue a particular goal or not.It is related to self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem.Social cognitive theory is considered appropriate and therefore selected to guide this study.

Methodology
This study adopted the correlational research design.Correlational research design is useful when examining the degree of relationship or association between two or more variables (Colman, 2003).The method used in the study did not involve the manipulation of variables.The variables were observed as they existed and their relationship with the outcome variable was established.
The population of this study consisted of all JSS 3 students in public junior secondary schools in Edo State.The total population of students for the year 2018/2019 session stood at 36,615.This figure was made up of 18,290 boys (49.95%) and 18,325 girls (50.05) in 298 Junior Secondary Schools in Edo State as obtained from Ministry of Basic Education, Benin City, 2013.
The sample size of this study was 10% of the entire JSS3 population of 36,615.The target sample was therefore 3,639.The multi-stage sampling procedure involving stratified and simple random sampling technique was adopted to reach the target population.At the first stage purposive selection of Junior Secondary School in public secondary schools in Edo State was done.The population was stratified into three strata based on the three (3) senatorial districts of Edo State as follows: Edo Central, Edo North and Edo South Senatorial Districts.At the second stage, local government areas from each of the three (3) senatorial districts were sampled.This yielded nine (9) local government areas, representing fifty percent (50%) of the total 18 local government areas in the state.At the third stage, actual schools and students to be used were balloted for.Four public junior secondary schools each were sampled from each of the nine local government areas that had earlier been sampled making 36 schools with a student's population of 3,639 constitute the sample of the study.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and data collected were analysed using the Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient to answer research questions while the multiple regression analysis was applied to test the hypothesis.

Results and Discussion
A Correlation Matrix of Self-Concept, Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem and Academic Performance in Mathematics of Junior Secondary School Students in Edo State The results in Table 1 showed that the coefficient of relationship between self-concept and academic performance in mathematics is 0.032(P<.05),which indicates a positive and significant relationship.In the light of this, the null hypothesis of no significant relationship is hereby rejected.The data indicates that there is a significant relationship between self-concept, and academic performance in mathematics.The conclusion is that as self-concept increases, academic performance in mathematics also increases.Therefore, to a level of certainty, we should expect students with high level of self-concept to maintain a high level of academic performance in mathematics.
Multiple Regression Analysis of Relationship between Predictors (Self Concept, Self Esteem and Self Efficacy) and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Students of Junior Secondary Schools in Edo State.Table 2 presents the variables that were entered into the multiple regression equation.The Table shows the percentage of variability in the dependent variable (academic performance in mathematics).This is accounted for by all the independent variables (self efficacy, self esteem and self concept) together, which is R2 square = 0.013.It also reveals an F-test of (3.934) at p. < .05level of significance.The result of the analysis showed that self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem combined contribute significantly (though the contribution is very minimal) to academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo State.
Also, Table 2 reveals Beta (weight), which was used to determine the relative contribution of a particular independent variable in the equation after controlling for the effects of all other independent variables.The result of the analysis showed self-efficacy with beta value, b= -.079, t(-2.665);self concept b= .065,t(2.140) and self-esteem, b = .054,t(1.707)where P < 0.05 in all cases.
From the analysis therefore, self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem contributed 13% to the variance of academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo state.Self-concept was the best predictor followed by self-efficacy with negative connotation.Self-esteem however did not show predictive value to academic performance in mathematics.Therefore, the null hypothesis which states that self-concept, selfefficacy, and self-esteem do not significantly predict academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo state is rejected.

Summary of Major Findings
The major findings of the study are summarized below: 1.There is a significant positive relationship between self-concept and academic performance in mathematics among Junior Secondary School students in Edo State.

Academic Performance
Self-Concept Self-efficacy Self-esteem 2. There is a significant negative relationship between self-efficacy and academic performance in mathematics among Junior Secondary School students in Edo State.There is a positive but non-significant relationship between self-esteem and academic performance in mathematics among Junior Secondary School students in Edo State.
Self-concept, self-efficacy and self-esteem jointly significantly predict academic performance in mathematics among Junior Secondary School students in Edo State.However, taking individually, only self-concept and selfefficacy predict academic performance.Self-esteem does not.

Discussion of Findings
Findings of this study are discussed under the following sub-headings: This becomes more relevant when the individual feels that he is able to excel in some subjects where he feels he has great aptitude.In this case, such self-ability enables or prompts him to develop more interest in the subjects, despite the acclaimed difficulties (Zahra, 2010).This finding is in line with Dambudzo (2005), Zahar (2014) and Afuwape (2011) who earlier found, in their independent studies, a significant relationship between self-concept and students academic performance.
Empirical evidence abounds that self-concept beliefs is related to and also influences academic performance.Self-concept also works with and influences other self-beliefs that have predictive influence on academic performance.This means that self-concept working together with other self-beliefs such as self-efficacy and selfesteem etc. positively predicts academic performance.Researchers have reported relationships between self-concept and academic performance in mathematics.The relationships as it is with other self-concepts can run from a strong negative correlation to a nearly perfect positive correlation, (Hansford and Hattie, 1982).Yet a lot of the studies reported from moderate to a weak correlation.
In the same vein, many researchers have found a significant positive relationship between self-concept and students academic performance in mathematics especially on the premise that self-concept controls an adolescent's behaviour, just as it plays dominant role in their behavour modification (Colman, 2003;Hassan, 2010;Hattie, 1992;Illeris, 2004;Iqbal, 2003;Okoko, 2012).To these researchers, any academic outcome depends primarily on what one thinks and feels about oneself.This serves as a morale booster to learn (Colman et al., 2010); and a motivational impetus for positive achievement (Illeris, 2004).
Many students are generally believed to be scared of mathematics and science subjects like Physics and Chemistry.This pseudo notion allegedly follows students to secondary schools from primary schools.Even at the primary school level, many pupils are acclaimed to develop phobia for mathematics.This phobia seems to culminate into abysmal low performance in mathematics (Hattie, 1992).Mathematics may not be difficult but the "defeatist perception" of the students makes them fail, and this is where the concept of self-concept becomes important in this study.It stands to reason, therefore, that if a student believes that a subject is difficult, it becomes difficult and if it is perceived easy, it becomes easy.This thought and feelings (self-concept) directly influence students' performance favorably or adversely.
The study also indicates that the higher the self-concept, the higher the academic performance.This findings is in tandem with the earlier findings of Zimmerman (2000); Shafique (2002); Vonsttumm Chamorro-Premuzic (2011) and Dramanu and Balarabe (2013).Self-concept may be developed from peers or the family where children are encouraged to face life with courage (education inclusive).Peer friends who believe in working hard at school invariably make the group members hardworking Yaro (2010).Such friends may form study group and display their knowledge in class at the slightest opportunity.Moreso, display of knowledge has a correlation with academic performance (Shafique, 2000).Answering questions in class, especially in subjects deemed difficult, allegedly acquire high level of self; believing that they can excel in each subjects.In the case of science subjects like physics and chemistry and biology (and basically mathematics) that are presumed difficult, many students who developed interest in the subjects and believed that they can excel in the subjects are today great scientists (Dramanu and Balarabe, 2013;Illeris, 2004).Family background may also enhance self-concept.This is more pronounced in families where parents are educated and encourage their children and wards to study a particular course.This could be the reason why we find children of parents who are doctors, pharmacists, nurses, medical laboratory officers, and even engineers excelling in science subjects (Yaro, 2010).
It was found that a significant positive relationship exists between self-concept and academic performance among junior secondary school students in Edo state.This therefore implies that self-concept is a predictor of academic performance.The reason for this might be due to the fact that when a child (or anyone for that matter) has a positive self-concept, he/she attacks any challenge that may come across the individual's way.As a result, selfconcept plays a major role in student's academic performance.The conclusion is that as self-concept increases academic performance also increases.Therefore, to a level of certainty, we should expect students with high level of self-concept to maintain a high level of academic performance.
Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Academic Performance in Mathematics: This study found that self efficacy has a significant negative relationship with academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo state.This may be due to anxiety or fear of failing mathematics at that level.This is because previous experiences of success and failure may have come into play since self-efficacy beliefs are always specific to particular situations.This is in line with the findings of Bandura (1997); Pajares and Schunk (2010) who in their various studies agree that self-efficacy beliefs are sensitive to particular tasks or activities.
Again, the relationship between self-efficacy and academic performance in mathematics in this study being negative may be due to over-working/fatigue, anxiety, over-confidence and enthusiasm.Self-efficacy beliefs are known to be easily affected by high emotional arousal.This equally affects performance either positively or negatively (Michael, 2003;Smith, 1987).
The result of this study, which indicated a negative relationship, could mean a strong negative belief (selfefficacy) about mathematics.Having a negative belief that mathematics is difficult and a subject one cannot pass especially at young adolescent's stage may result to poor performance.This is in line with Pajares and Miller (1995); Zimmerman (2000); who studied the relationship between self-efficacy and student's anxiety reactions regarding mathematics and found a negative correlation between them.
A strong sense of efficacy enhances human accomplishment and well-being in countless ways.Confident individuals approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided.
The teacher's self-efficacy beliefs are related to and also influence the students' beliefs and performance.Selfefficacious teachers create atmosphere in and around the classroom so that rigorous academic activities and intellectual challenges are made to look interestingly simpler.With the appropriate and necessary emotional support and encouragement, students will meet with challenges and perform excellently well in academics.Since teacher's own self-beliefs can have either a positive or negative influence (a lifelong security risk) on that of the students, they (teachers) have to seriously deal with their own belief system if their students would come out well nurtured and confidence.The conclusion is that as self-efficacy increases, academic performance decreases to some extent and / or vice visa.To some level of certainty we should therefore expect students with high self-efficacy to be overconfident thereby performing poorly in mathematics.
Relationship between Self-Esteem and Academic Performance in Mathematics: From the findings of this study there is a weak positive relationship between self-esteem and academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo state.The result is not unexpected.It only tells that their self-esteem, selfworthiness when it comes to mathematics is low.Many just do not believe, that they are worthy of a high mark in mathematics.Many students therefore display low self-esteem as a result of feelings of inadequacy over inability to solve mathematical problems perhaps right from the primary schools.This aligns with Lawrence (2000); who found in his study that majority of students are likely to have low self-esteem as a result of feeling inadequate over not being good in some subjects and in addition have low self-esteem as a result of other experiences probably beginning in childhood.The result also in line with the findings of Pullmann and Allik (2008), who found a low (not high) selfesteem but a significant predictor of academic performance among students.Several other researchers (Herb and Alison, 2008;Hossaini, 2002;Naderi et al., 2009) found various moderate relationships between self-esteem and students' academic performance.Again at the students' age and level of education, and in a society where children are mostly not aware of the self-worth concept, low self-esteem may not mean poor performance especially when it comes to a subject like mathematics.Since self-esteem refers to the overall evaluation of oneself (ones worthiness) in either positive or negative way, true judgment of self-worthiness may be difficult at this stage.It might not be easy for a junior student to judge their feelings of self-competence especially in mathematics.Pajares and Schunk (2001) stressed that an obsession with ones sense of self is responsible for an alarming increase in depression and other mental difficulties.As this may not mean zero relationship between self-esteem and academic performance, it is in line with Malbi and Reasoner (2008), who found that low general self-esteem does not necessary signal poor performance.The findings revealed a limited correlation (0.026) between self-esteem and academic performance in mathematics.This means whether high or low, self-esteem is a significant predictor of academic performance (Pullmann and Allik, 2008).
Many other researchers found a no significant relationship between self-esteem and academic performance.For instance, Naderi et al. (2009), in their study titled self-esteem, gender and academic achievement of undergraduate students found no significant relationship between self-esteem and academic performance.
However, this result contradict the popular findings by researchers Hamachek (2005); Okoko (2012) ; Afari et al. (2012) etc. who found positive and significant relationship between self-esteem and academic performance in their various studies.
Today, researchers see self-esteem as a major factor in learning.They consistently report a positive correlation between how much worth students place on themselves and their academic performance.If the student is confident or has high self-esteem he/she performs well in academics, but where the students do not have selfconfidence they perform less.
Teachers at this level have a way of building in their students' self-beliefs that can either have beneficial or destructive influence to them.If the teacher's self-esteem is low either from his personal life or not which can be noticed from appearance, dressing, speech or conversation either with students or fellow teachers, some students might hate the subject and their self-esteem might be in danger.Consistent lower marks from a particular subject may make a student develop low self-esteem on a particular subject.As in this study, mathematics subject may be the reason why their true self-esteem cannot be detected.Good results/marks have a way of building up one's sense of self-worthiness and competence.Some researchers who investigated the relationship between self-esteem and academic performance found that high self-esteem facilitates academic performance yet only a limited correlation was revealed between self-esteem and academic performance (Pullmann and Allik, 2008).The conclusion is that as self-esteem decreases, academic performance in mathematics also decreases to some extent.To some level of certainty, therefore, we should expect students with lower self-esteem to maintain a corresponding lower level of academic performance in mathematics.

Conclusion
This study finds out that self-concept and self-efficacy are not only significantly related to academic performance, they significantly predict academic performance of students.The result indicates that self-concept proved to have a stronger relationship with academic performance in mathematics followed by self-efficacy.Selfesteem though positively related to academic performance, does not significantly predict academic performance in mathematics.

Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made: i. Adequate and sufficient attention must be given to sustain the development of positive self-concept and selfefficacy of students in the school system, while deliberate efforts should be made to build up the selfesteem of the students.ii.Teachers should be offered professional guidance by educational authorities on these self-constructs in students as an avenue to improve on students' academic performance.iii.Teaching or helping of students to develop positive self-construct especially the academic type, is a sensitive issue.It should not be left alone for only classroom teachers.Other professionals in schools must be involved.It should be the concern of the entire educational team.iv The government should employ psychologists and guidance counselors to help train children in self-beliefs right from the primary schools level.
of Self-Constructs to Academic Relationship between Self-Concept and Academic Performance in Mathematics: This study has shown that there is a significant positive relationship between self-concept and academic performance in mathematics among junior secondary school students in Edo State.The reason for this is not far-fetched.An individual's behavior is influenced by what the individual thinks about himself.If an individual has a positive view about himself, such individual will likely have a positive attitude towards his academic pursuit.

Table - 1
. A Correlation Matrix of Self-Concept, Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem and Academic Performance in Mathematics of Junior Secondary School Students in Edo State *Correlation is significant at 0.05 level (2-tailed) **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed) N= 3,639

Table - 2
. Multiple Regression Analysis of Relationship between Predictors (Self Concept, Self Esteem and Self Efficacy) and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Students of Junior Secondary Schools in Edo State.